Slitherine

Wondering what the veterans use to punch through Italy. ??? I find it a much tougher road w/ the terrain than the German fronts.

I'm not sure how everyone else handles it but I try to mostly avoid it. If the Italians commit to building ground units it's extremely difficult even to get a port in Italy I think. The only way to do it is to grab a port before the Italians are really ready for an invasion. And then you face the Gustav line unless you managed a port in the north. I think it's more a distraction than anything. It's worth showing your face there but not really worth committing to as a major offensive in 42 and 43 imo. I guess it could depend on your opponent though.

Air support, air support, and more air support. That's the only way to make any progress on the Italian peninsula against a reasonably strong defense. Like jjdenver, I prefer to avoid Italy and go for France. But if that doesn't work, going for Italy can be a very good strategy for the Allies because it is nearly impossible for the Axis to counterattack on the narrow peninsula. Plus, it nullifies the power of the German tanks.

I think the main reason to engage the Axis in Italy is to force them to spend PP's, manpower and oil to defend there. You can always land in France later when you're stronger. The Germans can use armor to deal with the Allied landing force in France it the invasion comes too early.

But if you bleed the Axis in Libya and Italy in 1942-1943 then they will get into problems you can exploit later when you have the strength to invade France.